Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-01-28

Subject of Discussion at the PRESBYTERIAN
Church Last Night.

Church Last Night.
The following is an extract of the sub
ject discussed at the prayer meeting in
the Presbyterian Church last night. in
which the pastor said:
Our church since 1923 has observed a
day Of prayer for colleges. This is the
day appointed by our General Assembly,
and for several reasons we do not wish TO
leave it unobscrved, although we are in
the midst of services that seem TO some to
be out of harmony with its observance
When we consider that it is our custom
10 observe this day, and that some of the
young of the congregation are away at
different colleges and schools, and that
we have college in our city, where extra
religious services commence with this
day. and the Naval Academy which ranks
with colleges, we see, after all. that the
observance of the day by US is very APP
propriate.
The religious students of the colleges of
our land have always had societies Of
various kinds for their own spiritual i'm
provement. In 1858, a Young Mems
Christian Association was formed in the
University of Virginia, and these associa
tons have increased, until there are now
231 associations in the colleges of this
legcs is in contrast with what Ii was in
the early part of the century. In 1S10~
Bishop Meade said Il can truly say that
in every educated young man in Virginia
| expected to find a sceptic, If not an
avowed infidel." A haf century or more
before that, it was said, that there were
only five students of Yale College who
were christians. At present we find that
one fourth, possibly one-third, of the
students of our colleges are members of
the church. For some years past there
have not been Tess than 1900 conversions
annually in these colleges. The number
intending to enter the ministry varies
one-fourth to one-fifteenth of the students
in these different institutions. With all
the fears expressed by some concerning
the dangers of college life, it can
be shown that in most Of our colleges
there is more safety than elsewhere for
our youths. They cannot be idlers, they
are under the care of professors, who, for
the most part, seek their good, are away
from many of the evils to which others
are exposed, and in place where they
can do the most for themselves, and
where the most possible is done for them.
A college is centre of good influences,
and its power for good is felt far and
has turned aside from its original and
legitimate purpose. When we consider
the money invested in these institutions,
by endowment and otherwise, the colec-
tions of books, and the thousands of able |
professors, we feel that the influence of
these colleges is very great. Since money
Is power, we cannot estimate its influence
even in one institution. The annual in |
come of 1926. 600, which the Johns Hop |
kins University has, is a source of benefit |
beyond our power to estimate. Then |
think of the influence of many attached |
to these institutions DIR. Mark Hopkins, |
president of Williams College, has had |
1926 students under his care, and about |
one.third Of the graduates of that institu-
tuion have entered the ministry. DIR. |
McCosh, when called to take the Presi.
dency of Princeton College, found about /
$50 students and 10 professors. After a
few years, the number of students and |
professors was doubled, and the funds of |
the college increased $2,000,000.
Then when we think of the influence
of those trained in these institutions, we
find motive to pray for them. 1t has
been estimated that the students convert
ed in one revival at Yale College, were
instrumental in the conversion of fifty
thousand person.
What blessing then is college.
Very frequently, after this day of prayer
revivals have commenced, and hundreds
of students have been brought into the
church. Jonathan Edwards, father and
son, Moses Stuart, Sylvester Larned, Viii
liam Nevins. John Breckenridge, Horace
Bushnell, DIR. Spring, DIR. Boardman, are
among the number of prominent minis
ters brought to Christ while in College,
and the number Of prominent and dis
tinguished laymen who consecrated them
selves to God while in College has been
very great.